Detection of campylobacter with nucleic acid probes

ABSTRACT

Nucleic acid probes capable of specifically hybridizing to rRNA of Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli and C. laridis and not to rRNA or rRNA genes of Pseudomonas aeuroginosa, E. coli or Salmonella typhimunium are described along with methods utilizing such probes for the detection of Campylobacter in clinical, food and other samples.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application of commonly assigned, application, U.S. Ser. No. 821,393, filed Jan. 22, 1986, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to detecting bacteria belonging to the genus Campylobacter and more specifically provides nucleic acid probes and compositions along with methods for their use for the specific detection of rRNA or rRNA genes of Campylobacter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The term "Campylobacter" as used herein, refers to the bacteria classified as such in Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, Vol. 1 (N. R. Krieg and J. G. Holt [eds. ], 1986, pp.111-118, , Williams & WilKins). Detection of Campylobacter is important in various medical and public health contexts. Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli are the two most important species, causing diarrhea (Blaser et al., 1979, Ann. Intern, Med. 91:179), and enteritis (G. K. Morris et al., eds, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.) in humans. Other Campylobacter species have been implicated in causing disease in humans or animals, such as abortion, septicemia and proliferative ileitis. In addition, microorganisms resembling Campylobacter have been isolated from feces of homosexual men (Fennell et al., 1984 J. Infec. Dis. 149:58) and from gastric ulcer biopsies (Kasper et al., 1984 Infection. 12:179).

It is, therefore, an aspect of the present invention to provide a novel assay system capable of rapidly detecting Campylobacter and which is generally applicable to environmental, food or clinical samples.

Campylobacter generally are identified pursuant to a standard laboratory method (Campylobacter, In Washington, J. A. [ed.], Laboratory Procedures in Clinical Microbiology, 2nd Ed., New York, Springer-Verlag, 1985, pp. 215-217).

It is yet another aspect of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages associated with traditional culturing techniques and to employ nucleic acid probes to detect Campylobacter.

It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide probes which can hybridize to target regions which can be rendered accessible to the probes under normal assay conditions.

While Kohne et al. (1968, Biophysical Journal 8:1104-1118) discuss one method for preparing probes to rRNA sequences they do not provide the teaching necessary to make Campylobacter-specific probes.

Pace and Campbell (1971, Journal of Bacteriology 107:543-547) discuss the homology of ribosomal ribonucleic acids from diverse bacterial species and a hybridization method for quantitating such homology levels. Similarly, Sogin, Sogin, and Woese (1972, Journal of Molecular Evolution 1:173-184) discuss the theoretical and practical aspects of using primary structural characterization of different ribosomal RNA molecules for evaluating phylogenetic relationships.

Fox, Pechman, and Woese (1977, International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 27:44-57) discuss the comparative cataloging of 16S ribosomal RNAs as an approach to prokaryotic systems. These references, however, fail to relieve the deficiency of Kohne's teaching with respect to Campylobacter.

Rashtchian and Fitts in copending application U.S. Ser. No. 692,778 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,086, discuss the generation of certain Campylobacter-specific nucleic acid probes targeted at genomic DNA sequences, but the method described would not yield small oligonucleotide probes.

It is yet another aspect to provide small oligonucleotide probes capable of specifically detecting Campylobacter. Romaniuk et al. (1987, J. Bacteriol. 169:2137-2141), Rashtchian et al. (1987, Current Microbiol. 14:311-317), Lau et al. (1987, System and Appl. Microbiol. 9:231-238), Paster and Dewhirst (1988, Intnl. J. System. Bacteriol. 38:56-62), and Thompson et al. (1988, Intnl. J. System. Bacteriol. 38:190-200) discuss Campylobacter ribosomal RNA gene organization and present 16S rRNA sequences from various Campylobacter. The references, however, fail to identify to probe target regions of most interest.

Romaniuk and Trust (1987, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 43:331-335), describe an oligonucleotide probe which hybridizes to a region of Campylobacter 16S rRNA and demonstrates its use in identifying strains of Campylobacter by Southern hybridization to electrophoretically-separated restriction fragments of Campylobacter genomic DNA. While useful in this limited context, this probe does not have sufficient specificity to identify Campylobacter in samples containing mixed populations of Campylobacter and non-Campylobacter bacteria.

Ribosomes are of profound importance to all organisms because they serve as the only Known means of translating genetic information into cellular proteins, the main structural and catalytic elements of life. A clear manifestation of this importance is the observation that all cells have ribosomes.

Ribosomes contain three distinct RNA molecules which, at least in E. coli, are referred to as 5S, 16S, and 23S rRNAs. These names historically are related to the size of the RNA molecules, as determined by sedimentation rate. In actuality, however, they vary substantially in size between organisms. Nonetheless, 5S, 16S, and 23S rRNA are commonly used as generic names for the homologous RNA molecules in any bacteria, and this convention will be continued herein.

Hybridization is traditionally understood as the process by which, under predetermined reaction conditions, two partially or completely complementary single-stranded nucleic acids are allowed to come together in an antiparallel fashion to form a double-stranded nucleic acid with specific and stable hydrogen bonds. The stringency of a particular set of hybridization conditions is defined by the base composition of the probe/target duplex, as well as by the level and geometry of mispairing between the two nucleic acids. Stringency may also be governed by such reaction parameters as the concentration and type of ionic species present in the hybridization solution, the types and concentrations of denaturing agents present, and/or the temperature of hybridization. Generally, as hybridization conditions become more stringent, longer probes are preferred if stable hybrids are to be formed. As a corollary, the stringency of the conditions under which a hybridization is to take place (e.g., based on the type of assay to be performed) will largely dictate the preferred probes to be employed. Such relationships are well understood and can be readily manipulated by those skilled in the art. As a general matter, dependent upon probe length, such persons understand stringent conditions to mean approximately 35° C.-65° C. in a salt solution of approximately 0.9 molar.

As used herein, probe(s) refer to synthetic or biologically produced nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) which, by design or selection, contain specific nucleotide sequences that allow them to hybridize under defined predetermined stringencies, specifically (i.e., preferentially) to target nucleic acid sequences.

A target nucleic acid sequence is one to which a particular probe is capable of preferentially hybridizing.

Still other useful definitions are given as their first use arises in the following text. All references cited herein are fully incorporated by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the various principles and aspects of the present invention, there are provided nucleic acid probes and probe sets comprising DNA or RNA sequences which, under specific hybridization conditions, are capable of detecting the presence of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) molecules of Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli and C. laridis, but which are not capable, under the same conditions, of detecting the rRNA of other related bacteria which may be present in the test sample. Relevant test samples might include for example, feces, blood, or other body fluids or tissues as well as foods and biological samples or materials from animals.

The probes of the instant invention can be used to identify a number of genetically distinct groups of Campylobacter. Four genetically distinct groups of Campylobacter species and relatives have been identified based upon an analysis of the ribosomal RNA sequences. Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Campylobacter laridis form the first group. The second group of genetically related bacteria has seven members comprising three subgroups: Campylobacter fetus and Campylobacter hyointestinalis in one subgroup; Wolinella recta, Wolinella curva, Bacteroides gracilis, and Bacteroides ureolyticus in a second subgroup; and Campylobacter sputorum by itself in the third subgroup. The third group of genetically distinct bacteria has only two members each of which represents a separate subgroup: Campylobacter cryaerophil and Campylobacter nitroigilis. The fourth groups has six total members representing three distance subgroups: Campylobacter cinaedi, Campylobacter fennelliae, and Flexispira rappini in the first subgroup; Thiovulum and Wolinella succinogenes in the second subgroup; and Campylobacter pylori is alone in the third subgroup. C. jejuni, C. coli and C. laridis--the Campylobacter species which account for the vast majority of isolates from clinical (stool) specimens and contaminated foods--form a discrete group. They are closely related to one another and distinct (in the pattern and extent of 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence variation) from the other Campylobacter species. Intermixed among the other three Campylobacter groups are a number of non-Campylobacter bacteria including representatives of the genera Wolinella, Bacteroide, Thiovulum and Flexispira.

The probes described herein hybridize principally with the members of the C. jejuni, C. coli and C. laridis group. Because of their overwhelming prevalence compared to other Campylobacter species in the clinical, food and environmental samples of most interest, and because of their genetic distinctness, probes specific for this Campylobacter group are of primary importance.

The present invention also features an assay system for the utilization of these probes, the preferred format of which can advantageously enhance the aforementioned desirable behavior of the probes. The assay system of the present invention advantageously exhibits the following enhanced performance capabilities with respect to other currently available means for detection of Campylobacter:

a) increased sensitivity; i.e., the ability to detect Campylobacter in a given sample more frequently than currently available methods;

b) potentially significant reductions in assay cost due to the use of inexpensive reagents and reduced labor;

c) accurate identification of even biochemically unusual Campylobacter; and

d) faster results because the test may be performed on uncultured samples which need not be grown further. Accordingly, the preferred test of this invention advantageously takes only one day to provide results.

It has been discovered that other advantages incurred by directing the probes of the present invention against rRNA include the fact that the rRNAs detected constitute a significant component of cellular mass. Although estimates of cellular ribosome content vary, actively growing Campylobacter bacteria may contain upwards of 5.0×10E+3 ribosomes per cell, and therefore 5.0×10E+3 copies of each of the rRNAs (present in a 1:1:1 stoichiometry in ribosomes). In contrast, other potential cellular target molecules such as genes or RNA transcripts thereof, are less ideal since they are present in much lower abundance.

A further unexpected advantage is that the rRNAs (and the genes encoding them) appear not to be subject to lateral transfer between contemporary organisms. Thus, the rRNA primary structure provides an organism-specific molecular target, rather than a gene-specific target as would likely be the case, for example, of a plasmid-borne gene or product thereof which may be subject to lateral transmission between contemporary organisms.

Additionally, the present invention provides probes to Campylobacter rRNA target sequences which are capable of distinguishing between a number of Campylobacter (described above). A preferred mixture of two probes also is provided which can hybridize to the rRNA target regions of Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli and C. laridis, the Campylobacter species most commonly isolated from clinical, food and environmental samples. Advantageously, these same rRNA target sequences are sufficiently different in most non-Campylobacter rRNAs that, under the preferred assay conditions of the present invention, the probe(s) of the present invention hybridize to Campylobacter rRNAs and do not generally hybridize to non-Campylobacter rRNAs. These probe characteristics are defined as inclusivity and exclusivity, respectively. The discovery that probes could be generated with the extraordinary inclusivity and exclusivity characteristics of those of the present invention with respect to Campylobacter was unpredictable and unexpected.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, an assay method for detecting Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli and C. laridis in stool specimens is provided. The test is rapid, sensitive and non-isotopic, does not require cultivation of bacteria in the sample prior to the hybridization step, and is highly specific for the mentioned Campylobacter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further understanding of the principles and aspects of the present invention may be made by reference to the tables wherein:

FIGS. 1A-1 to 1D show alignment of the nucleotide sequences of the probes of the present invention with their nucleotide target sequences of Campylobacter 16S rRNA (using the E. coli position numbering convention, Brosius et al., 1978, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75:4801-4805) along with relevant portions of the 16S rRNAs from other related bacteria including Wollinella, Bacteroides, Flexispira and Thiovulum. The E. coli sequence also is shown for the purpose of identifying the positions of the target regions. RNA sequences are written 5' to 3', probe sequences are DNA and written 3' to 5'. Lower case c in certain of the probes indicates a modified cytosine residue to which a reporter group (e.g. biotin or fluorescein) may or may not be attached depending on the assay form employed C, A, G, and U represent the ribonucleotide bases Cytosine, Adenosine, Guanosine, and Uridine, respectively. W, Y, M, H, N, and S represent uncertain nucleotide assignments: W equals A or U, Y equals C or U, M equals C or A, H equals A, C, or U, N equals A, C, G, or U, and S equals C or G. Lowercase letters in the RNA sequences indicate uncertainty in the existence of a nucleotide at that position. Dashes are alignment gaps indicating that no nucleotide is present at the position in the sequence where it appears; and

FIGS. 2A-2B exemplify the inclusivity and exclusivity behavior of the preferred probes toward a representative sampling of Campylobacter and non-Campylobacter strains tested by the cytodot procedure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND BEST MODE

The first step taken in the development of the probes of the present invention involved identification of regions of 16S rRNA which could potentially serve as target sites for Campylobacter specific nucleic acid probes. As a practical matter, it is difficult to predict, a priori, which non-Campylobacter organisms might be present in any test sample. Because of the large number of such potential non-Campylobacter bacteria, demonstrating adequate exclusivity for any given probe is extremely difficult and laborious and of unpredictable outcome. A more rigorous criterion was adopted to obviate the need to Know, during initial stages of research and development, what non-Campylobacter bacteria might be present in all test samples that ultimately will be screened using the probe. This entailed knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships among Campylobacter and between Campylobacter and other groups of bacteria. Specifically, an operating but previously unproven hypothesis was adopted that the exclusivity criterion could be satisfied by determining that if a particular target region in Campylobacter rRNA, sufficiently different from the homologous region in the rRNA of representative yet close evolutionary relatives of Campylobacter, could be identified, then a probe to such a sequence could be used to distinguish between the Campylobacter and the relatives by hybridization assay. Based on phylogenetic observations, it was then extrapolated that rRNA sequences of more distantly related organisms, even though their actual identity may not necessarily be known, should be predictably different in a particular region of sequence than the aforementioned close evolutionary relatives of Campylobacter. However, it cannot be predicted, a priori, whether such regions exist or, if they do, where within the rRNA such regions will be located.

As our first step in identifying regions of Campylobacter rRNA which could potentially serve as useful target sites for nucleic acid hybridization probes, nearly complete nucleotide sequences of the 16S rRNAs from a number of Campylobacter species were determined (see FIGS. 1A-1 to 1D). These were selected as representative of the evolutionary breadth of the genus Campylobacter. The nucleotide sequences of various portions of the rRNAs were determined by standard laboratory protocols either by cloning (Maniatis et al., 1982, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 545 pp) and sequencing (Maxam & Gilbert, 1977, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, U.S.A. 74:560-564; Sanger et al., 1977, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, U.S.A. 74:5463-5467) the genes which specify the rRNAs, and/or by direct sequencing of the rRNAs themselves using reverse transcriptase (Lane et al., 1985, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, U.S.A. 82:6955-6959).

The nucleotide sequences so obtained were compared to one another and to other available rRNA nucleotide sequences, in particular to those derived from the bacteria described in the second paragraph under `Summary of the Invention`. The preferred regions of sequence shown in FIGS. 1A-1 to 1D were identified as potentially exhibiting useful inclusivity and exclusivity characteristics with respect to these species.

Further experimental testing of each nucleic acid probe was conducted in order to rigorously demonstrate whether the desired characteristics discussed above could indeed be obtained, namely: 1) adequate exclusivity to all, even closely related, non-Campylobacter organisms, 2) useful inclusivity patterns with respect to Campylobacter strains, and 3) accessibility of the target regions under various assay conditions that might actually be employed. Because of the extremely large number of organisms potentially relevant to defining exclusivity (particularly in stool samples where a very large variety and abundance of non-Campylobacter bacteria are found) and inclusivity (on the order of 15 species and biogroups of Campylobacter, and a larger number of "Campylobacter-like organisms") characteristics of test probes, an iterative strategy was adopted to test and refine potential probes. In addition to test panels of cultured organisms, some 75 Campylobacter culture-negative stool specimens were screened using the probes in order to more rigorously demonstrate appropriate exclusivity behavior (Example 1--Specific). The probes were conveniently synthesized by standard phosphoramidite techniques (Caruthers, M. H. et al. [1983], in Gene Amplification and Analysis, eds. Papas, T. S., Rosenberg, M., Charikjian, J. G., Pub. Elsevier, New York, Vol. 3 pp.1-26) on an Applied Biosystems instrument.

"Dot blot" analysis, in accordance with well known procedures, was employed to preliminarily test the inclusivity and exclusivity properties of these first generation probes. As is known, dot blot analysis generally involves immobilizing a nucleic acid or a population of nucleic acids on a filter such as nitrocellulose, nylon, or other derivatized membrane which can be readily obtained commercially, specifically for this purpose. Either DNA or RNA can be easily immobilized on such a filter and subsequently can be probed or tested for hybridization under any of a variety of nucleic acid hybridization conditions (i.e. stringencies) with nucleic acid probes of interest. Under stringent conditions, probes whose nucleotide sequences have greater complementarity to the target sequence will exhibit a higher level of hybridization than probes containing less complementarity. For the oligonucleotide probes described herein, (i.e., 30-36 nucleotides) hybridization to rRNA targets at 60° C., for 14-16 hours (in a hybridization solution containing 0.9M NaCl, 0.12M Tris-HCl, pH 7.8, 6 mM EDTA, 0.1M KPO₄, 0.1% SDS, 0.1% pyrophosphate, 0.002% Ficoll, 0.02% BSA, and 0.002% polyvinylpyrrolidine) followed by three, 15 minute post-hybridization washes at 60° C. to remove unbound probes (in a solution containing 0.03M NaCl, 0.004M Tris-HCl, pH 7.8, 0.2 mM EDTA and 0.1% SDS), would be sufficiently stringent to produce the levels of specificity and sensitivity demonstrated in the tables and examples. Techniques are also available in which DNA or RNA present in crude (unpurified) cell lysates can be immobilized without having to first purify the nucleic acid in question (referred to herein as cytodots, see for example Maniatis, T., Fritsch, E .F. and Sambrook, J. (1982) Molecular Cloning, a Laboratory Manual). This latter approach significantly decreases the amount of effort required to screen for particular nucleotide sequences which may be present in the nucleic acids of any particular organism and, moreover, is advantageously amenable to the mass screening of large numbers of organisms. Therefore, it is the method of choice for exclusivity and inclusivity screening of potential nucleic acid hybridization probes versus large numbers of organisms.

A list of non-Campylobacter bacteria which exemplify the type of bacteria that may be present in potentially Campylobacter containing samples is given in Example 4. As discussed above, a probe which demonstrates good exclusivity characteristics to such a broad representation of bacteria can reasonably be predicted to behave similarly to a much broader list of more distantly related enteric organisms. This prediction is borne out by the data shown in Example 1--Specific in which the preferred probes (using a preferred assay format) did not cross-react with any of the non-Campylobacter bacteria present in 75 out of 75 Campylobacter culture-negative stool specimens tested.

Several other considerations also affect optimal design characteristics of a probe. The first is consideration of the geometry of the probe with respect to itself (i.e., intramolecular interactions). It has been discovered that potentially useful target sequences of 16S and 23S rRNAs most often are located in regions that exhibit a substantial possibility for self-complementarity. As a result, probes to these regions must be long enough and of appropriate geometry to compete with the secondary structure of the target molecule itself. Secondly, probes to such (structured) target regions can also exhibit self- complementarity. Because potential interactions between the probe and target sequences are governed by the same types of parameters that govern the intramolecular annealing of the target or probe sequences to themselves, it is possible, particularly under solution hybridization conditions, that self-complementary probes can render themselves inaccessible for hybridization to their target sequences. Thus, one important aspect of the probe design is to minimize such self-complementarity. This necessitates making a compromise between maximum utilization of Campylobacter-specific sequences and acceptable probe geometry.

A second consideration in probe design arises with respect to the inclusivity criterion. The preferred probe will be one which, while displaying appropriate exclusivity behavior, can also hybridize to the rRNA(s) of all desired Campylobacter bacteria. Because the genus Campylobacter itself is comprised of bacteria which exhibit significant phenotypic and genotypic (including, as disclosed below, rRNA) diversity, the design of such an "ideal" probe is greatly complicated. In practice, rather than searching for a single "universal" Campylobacter probe, a set of Campylobacter-specific probes is more preferably sought, each of which exhibits appropriate exclusivity along with a useful level of inclusivity. In aggregate, a preferred set of probes should ideally detect most or all Campylobacter and no non-Campylobacter bacteria. In such a set, for example, one probe may detect all but one or a few important Campylobacter strains, and another probe may hybridize only to those few Campylobacter strains missed by the first probe. Thus, although the probes disclosed below are characterized on an individual basis with respect to inclusivity characteristics, it should be recognized that the concept of "sets" of specific probes as detailed above is preferably considered in determining the importance of individual probes and in constructing assay Kits.

The final steps of probe design and analysis ideally comprise testing actual (e.g., food/clinical/environmental) samples and then selecting suitable probes for a final probe set so that the desirable properties are optimized under real assay conditions.

PROBES

The foregoing probe selection strategy yielded a number of probes useful for identifying Campylobacter bacteria in samples. As outlined in the Brief Description, FIGS. 1A-1 to 1D give the probe sequences, aligned upon their target sites in the rRNAs of representative Campylobacter strains; FIGS. 1A through 1D detail the preferred probes.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the hybridization behavior of the probes versus "cytoblots" of various Campylobacter and non-Campylobacter bacteria. In this experiment the probes were radioactively labelled with Phosphorous-32 for detection and quantitation. Hybridization conditions comprised hybridizing at 60° C. for 14-16 hours in the hybridization solution previously described. Hybridization with cytodots of each strain are approximated for each probe as positive (+) or negative (-). Positive signals vary from very strong (i.e., for C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. laridis strains), to variable (e.g., non-jejuni, coli or laridis Campylobacter strains), or quite weak (i.e., for non-Campylobacter). The sixty two clinical isolates have not all been typed to the species level, presumably most are C. jejuni, C. coli, or C. laridis strains.

It will be readily recognized, however, that as assay formats of higher stringency are employed, the use of longer versions of the probes may become more desirable in order to maintain an equivalent level of sensitivity (hybridization efficiency).

FIGS. 1A-1 and 1A-2 describes four probes, targeted at the 124 to 225 region of Campylobacter 16S rRNA (using the E. coli position numbering). The probes designated 345 and 346 have also been identified under the nomenclature AR197 and AR196, respectively, as described in U.S. Ser. No. 821,393. Both were demonstrated to hybridize specifically to rRNA from members of the genus Campylobacter. Under certain sensitive assay formats, probes 345 and 346 can exhibit some undesirable cross-hybridization to some non-Campylobacter present in normal stool specimens, and accordingly these probes are less preferred. Based upon additional sequence analysis, probes 999 and 732 were designed and tested. These are shorter than their "parent" probes (31 and 35 nucleotides long, respectively, versus 50 for both 345 and 346); they also utilize different portions of the Campylobacter-specific sequence positions located in 16S rRNA region 124-225, and thus bear a somewhat different relationship to the thermodynamically favored secondary structure of this target region than probes 345 and 346. Overall, probes 999 and 732 advantageously exhibit equivalent (i.e., full) inclusivity for the target species of Campylobacter (C. jejuni, C. coli and C. laridis) and improved exclusivity with respect to that shown by probes 345 and 346. Significantly less hybridization to non-C. jejuni, C. coli and Campylobacter laridis is exhibited by probes 999 and 732, but this is deemed an acceptable compromise given the improved exclusivity in the presently preferred assay formats (and also because of the relative incidence of various Campylobacter species in stool--C. jejuni>C. coli>C. laridis>>>all other Campylobacter, as discussed above).

Probes 732 and 999 are, therefore, the most preferred probes described herein because of the just described inclusivity and exclusivity behavior and also because of their apparent sensitivity. The hybridization behavior of probes 732 and 999 is detailed in FIGS. 2A and 2B and Examples 1-4. FIGS. 2A and 2B show the behavior of the probes individually in a cytodot format. Examples 1-4 detail the hybridization behavior of the probes used in combination in a most preferred, dual-specific, liquid hybridization format.

Note that in the dual-specific assay format (described in detail below--Example 1), hybridization of both probes is required to produce a positive result. Therefore, the effect of undesirable hybridization (i.e., to non-Campylobacter) by either probe alone may be significantly reduced, if not abolished, in this format.

FIGS. 1B-1 and 1B-2 describes two probes, designated 1104 and 1105, targeted at the 391 and 501 region of Campylobacter 16S rRNA (using the E. coli position numbering). Probe 1104 hybridizes to all C. jejuni (5), C. coli (3), and C. laridis (5), which have so far been tested and, in addition, hybridizes to 58 of 62 partially characterized, clinical isolates (mostly C. jejuni). It also hybridizes to a number of, but not all other Campylobacter species. Of the non-Campylobacters tested, only W. curva is detected to any significant extent by probe 1104. Probe 1105 hybridizes to all Campylobacter strains and species so far tested. It also hybridizes to the Bacteroides and Wolinella strains shown in FIGS. 1A-1 to 1D and the second paragraph under `Summary of the Invention`, but not to the enteric strains, E. coli, S. typhimurium, etc. The hybridization behavior of probe 1105 or derivatives thereof would potentially make it a most useful "broad-specificity" probe for the identification/detection of the entire group of Campylobacter and "relatives" described in the second paragraph under `Summary of the Invention`. It is of note that this entire grouping is, by a variety of genetic and biochemical criteria, quite distinct from all other bacteria. A probe or probe set useful for detecting the presence of any member of the group in a natural (e.g. clinical, food or environmental sample) would be a potentially valuable research tool for studying the occurrence and epidemiology of these still poorly understood bacteria. Since many of the non-C. jejuni, C. coli and Campylobacter laridis are very difficult to isolate or cultivate, not much really is known about their prevalence in the environment or about their association with disease states in animals and humans. These probes would serve as useful tools in gaining such understanding.

FIG. 1C describes three probes, designated 1130, 1132 and 1133 which are targeted at the 973 to 1049 region of Campylobacter 16S rRNA (using the E. coli position numbering). All exhibit full inclusivity for the C. jejuni, C. coli and C. laridis strains tested (FIGS. 2A and 2B) and, in addition, detect all 62 of the clinical isolates. Limited hybridization to a small number of non-jejuni, coli or laridis Campylobacter strains is exhibited by all three probes to this region under the hybridization conditions employed. All show excellent exclusivity behavior and likely will be extremely useful as Campylobacter-specific probes.

Note that probes 1132 and 1133 differ only at one position. This difference reflects the heterogeneity observed among the target Campylobacter at this position.

In FIGS. 1A-1 to 1D, lower case "c" designated an "analog c" residue, which is 2'-deoxycytidine which has been modified at the C-4 position with a 1,3-propane diamine side chain (Schulman, L. H. et al. (1981), Nucl. Acids Res. 9, 1203-1217). This compound is converted to a phosphoramidite which can be incorporated into a DNA probe using the solid phase synthetic methods developed by Caruthers (Caruthers, M. H., et al. (1982), in Genetic Engineering, Setlow, A. and Hollaender, J. K. (eds.), Vol. 4, pp 1-17, Plenum Press, New York). This primary amine then can be selectively derivatized with, for example, a biotin or fluorescein ligand which can be used to detect the synthetic oligonucleotide (Rashtchian, A., et al., 1987, Clin. Chem. 33/9, 1526-1530). Such ligands do not otherwise affect the behavior of the probes. In appending an analog c to the 3' ends during direct synthesis, a T residue often is coupled first as a convenience in the synthesis. Again, the T residue is not a necessary part of the probe "proper" in that it does not necessarily participate in a hybridization of the probe to its target sequence.

FIG. 1D describes two probes including 351, previously disclosed as Probe AR351. The other, probe 1134, was derived from, and is shorter then probe 351 but makes use of the same novel structural element in Campylobacter 16S rRNA. Both 351 and 1134 are targeted at the 1424-1489 region of Campylobacter 16S rRNA. Note in FIG. 1D that, near the middle of the target sequences for probes 351 and 1134, the Campylobacter rRNAs have a conserved deletion of six nucleotides with respect to the E. coli sequence in this region. The E. coli structure is much more representative of that exhibited by the vast majority of eubacteria and thus renders probe 1134 quite specific for Campylobacter. Additional nucleotide differences vicinal to this deletion among the Campylobacter and between the Campylobacter and Bacteroides, Wolinella, etc., further serve to restrict the hybridization of probes 1134 and 351 to members of the C. jejuni, C. coli and C. laridis group of Campylobacter. While some limited hybridization to a few other Campylobacter is detected on dot blots (FIGS. 2A and 2B), no hybridization to non-Campylobacter is detectable.

EXAMPLE 1--GENERAL

A Homopolymer Capture, Dual Probe, Liquid Hybridization Format Cultures containing Campylobacter and/or non-Campylobacter bacteria are grown in appropriate broth, then the nucleic acids are released by any of a number of appropriate lysis agents (e.g., NaOH, guanidine salts, detergent, enzymatic treatment, or some combination of the aforementioned). Hybridization is carried out with two different probes or probe sets at least one of which, but not necessarily both, must be specific for the organism to be detected. In this example, the Campylobacter specific "capture" probe 732 is enzymatically tailed with 20-200 deoxyadenosine (dA) residues at its 3'-terminus, and the reporter probe, 999, is labeled either chemically or enzymatically with radioactive phosphorus (P-32) or other small ligand (e.g., fluorescein or biotin, the former being used in this experiment) which is used to detect the captured target molecules.

Generally, following cultivation/enrichment, bacteria present in the test samples are transferred in small aliquots to test tubes. The bacteria are lysed, the capture and detection probes are added, and hybridization is allowed to proceed in an appropriate solution at an appropriate temperature such as described below (Example 1--Specific). The solution containing the target/probe complex then is brought into contact with a surface containing bound deoxythymidine (dT) homopolymer 15-3000 nucleotides in length, under conditions that will allow hybridization between the dA and dT. In this example, the dT is bound to a plastic "dipstick" which is submerged in the target/probe solution. If Campylobacter ribosomal RNA was present in the test sample, the dA tailed, Campylobacter-specific capture probes would have hybridized to the target rRNA sequences present and, in turn, would be captured onto the dipstick. Unhybridized nucleic acids and cellular debris are washed away as described below, leaving the captured DNA-RNA complex attached to the surface via the dA-dT duplex. The reporter probe also is bound to the dipstick via the chain of interactions--Capture surface-dT: dA-Capture probe:Target:Reporter Probe--only if the correct target nucleic acid is present. The bound, ligand derivatized (e.g., fluoresceinated) reporter probe then is detected by the addition of a ligand binding-enzyme complex (e.g., horseradish peroxidase-conjugated anti-fluorescein antibody, in this example). Following incubation under conditions permitting specific binding of the detection complex, washing to remove non-bound enzyme, addition of chromogenic substrate and subsequent color development (typically 20-30 minutes), and the optional addition of color-termination solution, the developed color is measured colorimetrically. This reading (typically in the range of 0.1->2.0 Absorbance units) is compared to the negative control levels, a threshold or cutoff value is established, and a determination of the "significance" of the experimental levels is made.

EXAMPLE 1--SPECIFIC

For clinical stool specimens, 1 g of the sample was added to 3 ml of Campylobacter stool processing buffer (3.25M guanidine thiocyanate, 0.4M Tris-HCl (7.5), 0.08M EDTA, 13% dextran sulfate 5000, 0.325% sarkosyl) and vortexed until the sample was homogenized.

0.70 ml of the processed sample was used for each hybridization. The nucleic acid released from each sample was detected by addition of 0.05 ml specific capture and detector probes (containing 1.0 microgram/ml of preferred capture probe 732 and 0.5 microgram/ml of detector probe 999-FITC). A capture dipstick was placed into each test tube (containing bacterial lysate and the specific probes). The contents were incubated in a 37° C. water bath for 60 minutes to enable hybridization of specific capture and reporter probes to target nucleic acids and the capture of these specific DNA/rRNA hybrids to the dipsticks as described above.

After hybridization, the dipsticks were washed by briefly submerging the dipsticks in a wash basin containing enough wash solution to cover the active dT coated part of the dipstick (50 mM Tris, pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM EDTA, and 0.1% Tween 20, room temperature) for one minute.

The washed dipsticks were removed from the wash basin, blotted dry with absorbent paper, placed into a set of test tubes containing 0.75 ml antibody-enzyme conjugates (anti-fluorescein-horseradish peroxidase diluted in wash buffer), and allowed to incubate at room temperature for 20 minutes.

After allowing the antigen-antibody reaction to occur, the dipsticks were removed from the test tubes, washed and blotted in the same manner as described in the preceding two paragraphs. The dipsticks were placed into a set of labeled test tubes containing substrate-chromogen mixtures (urea-peroxide:tetramethyl benzidine [Ventrex, Portland, Maine], 2:1) and allowed to incubate at room temperature for 20 minutes. The dipsticks were then removed and the color development step terminated by the addition of 0.25 ml 4N sulfuric acid. The absorbance of the samples was measured colorimetrically using light of wave length 450 nanometers.

Sample tubes with ≧0.1 O.D. values were considered positive for Campylobacter, those with lower absorbance values indicated the absence of Campylobacter. Results from 148 stool specimens tested as above are shown below:

    ______________________________________                                                     CULTURE                                                                        Positive   Negative                                                ______________________________________                                                           (Confirmed +)                                                                               (False +)                                       Invention                                                                             Positive   71            0                                                                (False -)    (Confirmed -)                                   Assay  Negative    2           75                                              ______________________________________                                          ##STR1##                                                                       ##STR2##                                                                       (≡ means "defined as")                                             

EXAMPLE 2

The above procedures were repeated on negative pooled stools which had been seeded with different concentration of Campylobacter jejuni. The following results were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                         Seeded Concentration                                                                             Absorbance                                                   CFU/ml            450 nm                                                       ______________________________________                                         0                 0.01                                                         1 × 10.sup.4                                                                               0.13                                                         1 × 10.sup.5                                                                               0.38                                                         1 × 10.sup.6                                                                               0.73                                                         1 × 10.sup.7                                                                               1.50                                                         ______________________________________                                    

While the description of the invention has been made with reference to detecting rRNA, it will be readily understood that the probes described herein and probes complementary to those described herein will also be useful to detect the genes (DNA) encoding the rRNA and accordingly, such probes are to be deemed equivalents to the described probes and encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present invention and the appended claims.

EXAMPLE 3

Following the procedures of Example 1, Campylobacter isolates were "seeded" into negative pooled stool at 10⁷ CFU/ml and tested in the preferred liquid format using capture probe 732 and detector probe 999-FITC. Sources for the listed bacterial strains are as given in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The results obtained were:

    ______________________________________                                                                   ABSORBANCE                                           ORGANISM         STRAIN   450 NM                                               ______________________________________                                         C. JEJUNI        33560    1.03                                                 C. JEJUNI        N933     0.99                                                 C. JEJUNI        29428    0.90                                                 C. LARIDIS       UA487    1.05                                                 C. LARIDIS       UA577    1.04                                                 C. LARIDIS       35223    0.89                                                 C. COLI          33559    0.88                                                 C. COLI          84-29    0.83                                                 C. FETUS FETUS   33246    0.12                                                 C. FETUS VENEREALIS                                                                             33561    0.08                                                 C. HYOINTESTINALIS                                                                              35217    0.10                                                 C. MUCOSALIS     43264    0.09                                                 C. SPUTORUM      33562    0.14                                                 C. CRYAEROPHILIA 43157    0.06                                                 C. PYLORI        43504    0.03                                                 ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 4

Example 3 was repeated except that non-Campylobacter isolates were "seeded" into negative pooled stool at 10⁸ CFU/ml and tested in the preferred liquid format using capture probe 732 and detector probe 999-FITC. Sources for the listed bacterial strains are as follows: (1) American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md.; (2) Gary Doern, University of Mass. Med. Center, Worcester, Mass.; (3) M. J. Blaser, V.A. Medical Center, Denver, Colo.; (4) Tanya Sanderos, Vermont Department of Health, Burlington, Vt.; (5) Gene-Trak Systems in-house isolate; and (6) Silliker Laboratories, Chicago, Ill.. The observed results were as follows:

    __________________________________________________________________________                                      ABSORBANCE                                    ORGANISM              STRAIN                                                                              SOURCE                                                                               450 NM                                        __________________________________________________________________________     ACINETOBACTER CALCOACETICUS                                                                          19606                                                                               (1)   0.01                                          AEROMONAS HYDROPHILIA 7965 (1)   0.01                                          ALCALIGENES FAECALIS  8750 (1)   0.01                                          BACILLUS CEREUS       14579                                                                               (1)   0.00                                          BACTEROIDES FRAGILIS  23745                                                                               (1)   0.01                                          BACTEROIDES GRACILIS  33236                                                                               (1)   0.01                                          BACTEROIDES MELLANINOGENICUS                                                                         25845                                                                               (1)   0.02                                          BACTEROIDES THETAIOTAMICRON                                                                          27941                                                                               (1)   0.03                                          BACTEROIDES UREOLYTICUS                                                                              33387                                                                               (1)   0.01                                          BIFIDOBACTERIUM BIFIDUM                                                                              35914                                                                               (1)   0.00                                          CANDIDA ALBICANS      18804                                                                               (1)   0.03                                          CANDIDA GLABRATA      2001 (1)   0.03                                          CANDIDA STELLATOIDIAE 36232                                                                               (1)   0.00                                          CANDIDA TROPICALIS    750  (1)   0.00                                          CITROBACTER DIVERSUS  27156                                                                               (1)   0.00                                          CITROBACTER FREUNDII  S135 (6)   0.00                                          CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE 9689 (1)   0.01                                          CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS                                                                              3624 (1)   0.01                                          CLOSTRIDIUM SORDELLII 9714 (1)   0.01                                          EDWARDSIELLA TARDA    15947                                                                               (1)   0.02                                          ENTEROBACTER AEROGENES                                                                               13048                                                                               (1)   0.01                                          ENTEROBACTER AGGLOMERANS                                                                             S121 B                                                                              (6)   0.01                                          ENTEROBACTER CLOACAE  S134 (6)   0.03                                          ESCHERICHIA COLI      12036                                                                               (1)   0.01                                          FUSOBACTERIUM MORTIFERUM                                                                             9817 (1)   0.01                                           HAFNIA ALVEI         29927                                                                               (1)   0.01                                          KLEBSIELLA OXYTOCA    13182                                                                               (1)   0.01                                          KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE S122 F                                                                              (6)   0.02                                          MORGANELLA MORGANII   25830                                                                               (1)   0.00                                          NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE 9793 (1)   0.00                                          PEPTOCOCCUS ASACCHAROLYTICUS                                                                         29743                                                                               (1)   0.00                                          PEPTOCOCCUS MAGNUS    29328                                                                               (1)   0.03                                          PEPTOSTREPTOCOCCUS ANAEROBIUS                                                                        27337                                                                               (1)   0.00                                          PLESIOMONAS SHIGELLOIDES                                                                             14029                                                                               (1)   0.00                                          PROPIONIBACTERIUM ACNES                                                                              6919 (1)   0.03                                          PROTEUS MIRABILIS     IG 3109                                                                             (5)   0.01                                          PROTEUS VULGARIS      13315                                                                               (1)   0.01                                          PROVIDENCIA ALCALIFICIENS                                                                            9886 (1)   0.01                                          PROVIDENCIA RETTGERI  29944                                                                               (1)   0.00                                          PROVIDENCIA STUARTII  29914                                                                               (1)   0.04                                          PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA                                                                               IG 928                                                                              (5)   0.00                                          SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM                                                                               23566                                                                               (1)   0.00                                          SERRATIA MARCESENS    RF 972                                                                              (1)   0.01                                          SHIGELLA DYSENTERIAE  RF 970                                                                              (1)   0.00                                          STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS 12600                                                                               (1)   0.00                                          STREPTOCOCCUS FAECALIS                                                                               19433                                                                               (1)   0.00                                          VIBRIO PARAHEMOLYTICUS                                                                               17802                                                                               (1)   0.02                                          WOLLINELLA CURVA      33238                                                                               (1)   0.00                                          WOLLINELLA RECTA      35224                                                                               (1)   0.00                                          WOLLINELLA SUCCINOGENES                                                                              25943                                                                               (1)   0.02                                          YERSINIA ENTEROCOLITICA                                                                              9610 (1)   0.01                                          __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. A probe capable of hybridizing, under nucleic acid stringent conditions, to rRNA or rRNA genes of Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter laridis, said probe not hybridizing to rRNA or rRNA genes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli or Salmonella typhimurium, said probe being targeted to nucleic acid sequences located at the regions of Campylobacter 16S rRNA consisting of Region 124 to 225, Region 391 to 501, Region 973 to 1049, and Region 1424 to 1489 (using the E. coli position numbering convention).
 2. The nucleic acid probe of claim 1 complementary to the region 124 to
 225. 3. The nucleic acid probe of claim 1 complementary to the region 391 to
 501. 4. The nucleic acid probe of claim 1 complementary to the region 973 to
 1049. 5. The nucleic acid probe of claim 1 complementary to the region 1424 to
 1489. 6. An assay medium comprising:a) a biological sample containing at least one Campylobacter species selected from the group consisting of Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Campylobacter laridis, and b) one or more of the probes of claim 1 which hybridize to the rRNA or rRNA genes of said Campylobacter species.
 7. The assay medium of claim 6 which also contains at least one microorganism selected from the group consisting of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli or Salmonella typhimurium.
 8. An assay medium comprising:a) a biological sample containing at least one Campylobacter species selected from the group consisting of Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Campylobacter laridis, and b) two probes according to claim 1 which are complementary to different regions of Campylobacter 16S RNA. 